Electric cable junction box assembly

Abstract

An electric cable junction box assembly includes a main body having a holeherethrough. A junction box main connector assembly is fixed in the hole and is provided with electrical leads adapted to receive a main cable end connector. A junction box secondary connector assembly is fixed in a second hole in the body, the junction box secondary connector assembly being adapted to receive a secondary cable end connector. A wiring harness in the main body is connected to the junction box main connector assembly, and a branch of the wiring harness extends from a remainder of the wiring harness and is fixed to the junction box secondary connector assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric cable junction box assembly comprising: a tubular main body having at least one side hole through a side wall thereof;   a first plate extending across a first end of the tubular main body, the first plate having a first end hole therethrough;   a second plate extending across a second end of the tubular main body, the second plate having a second end hole therethrough;   a junction box main connector assembly fixed in the first end hole and provided with electrical leads fixed in a recess in said junction box main connector assembly, said leads and said recess being adapted to receive a main cable end connector;   a junction box secondary connector assembly fixed in a selected one of the at least one side hole and the second end hole, the secondary connector assembly having electrical leads fixed in a recess therein and being adapted to receive a secondary cable end connector;   a wiring harness in said main body connected to said junction box main connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box main connector assembly leads, at least a branch of said wiring harness extending from a remainder of said wiring harness and fixed to said junction box secondary connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box secondary connector assembly leads;   wherein said junction box main connector assembly comprises a main connector and a main insert disposed in said main connector, said electrical leads of said main connector assembly being mounted on said main insert, and said wiring harness being connected to said main insert;   wherein said junction box main connector is further adapted to threadedly connect with, and disconnect from, a cover member;   wherein said junction box secondary connector assembly comprises a secondary connector and a secondary insert disposed in said secondary connector, said electrical leads of said secondary connector assembly being mounted on said secondary insert, and at least a portion of said wiring harness being connected to said secondary insert; and   wherein said junction box main connector is adapted to threadedly connect to, and disconnect from, a main cable end connector.   
     
     
       2. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said junction box assembly main connector is adapted for attachment to said cover member in a watertight manner. 
     
     
       3. An electric cable junction box assembly comprising: a tubular main body having at least one side hole through a side wall thereof;   a first plate extending across a first end of the tubular main body, the first plate having a first end hole therethrough;   a second plate extending across a second end of the tubular main body, the second plate having a second end hole therethrough;   a junction box main connector assembly fixed in the first end hole and provided with electrical leads fixed in a recess in said junction box main connector assembly, said leads and said recess being adapted to receive a main cable end connector;   a junction box secondary connector assembly fixed in a selected one of the at least one side hole and the second end hole, the secondary connector assembly having electrical leads fixed in a recess therein and being adapted to receive a secondary cable end connector;   a wiring harness in said main body connected to said junction box main connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box main connector assembly leads, at least a branch of said wiring harness extending from a remainder of said wiring harness and fixed to said junction box secondary connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box secondary connector assembly leads; and   wherein upon disconect of said main cable end connector from said junction box assembly main connector, said main insert is removable from said main connector assembly, along with a portion of said wiring harness.   
     
     
       4. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said junction box secondary connector assembly is fixed in said second end hole in said second plate. 
     
     
       5. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said junction box assembly comprises at least one additional junction box secondary connector assembly fixed in said hole in said side wall of said main body. 
     
     
       6. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein a secondary tubular body is fixed in each of said holes in said side wall of said main body, and each of said secondary connector assemblies mounted in said side wall is fixed in one of said secondary tubular bodies. 
     
     
       7. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said junction box main connector assembly comprises a main connector and a main insert disposed in said main connector, said electrical leads of said main connector assembly being mounted on said main insert, and said wiring harness being connected to said main insert;   said junction box secondary connector assembly comprises a secondary connector and a secondary insert disposed in said secondary connector, said electrical leads of said secondary connector assembly being mounted on said secondary insert, and at least a portion of said wiring harness being connected to said secondary insert;   each of said junction box secondary connectors is adapted to threadedly connect to, and disconnect from, a secondary cable end connector; and   said secondary assembly inserts are removable from their respective secondary connector assemblies with a further portion of said wiring harness upon said disconnect of said secondary cable end connectors from said junction box assembly secondary connectors.   
     
     
       8. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said wiring harness and said wiring harness branches in said main body are of a length substantially greater than shortest hypothetical lines between said junction box main insert and said secondary inserts, such that upon withdrawal of said inserts from said main body, each of said inserts is accompanied by a sufficient length of wiring harness and wiring harness branch to facilitate free movement of said withdrawn inserts. 
     
     
       9. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 3 further comprising legs fixed to and extending from said main body for releasable connection to a support structure. 
     
     
       10. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said junction box assembly connectors are adapted for attachment to said cable end connectors in a watertight manner. 
     
     
       11. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said junction box secondary connectors is further adapted to threadedly connect to, and disconnect from, a cover member. 
     
     
       12. The junction box assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said junction box assembly secondary connectors are each adapted for attachment to said cover member in a watertight manner. 
     
     
       13. An electric cable junction box assembly comprising: a tubular main body having at least one side hole through a side wall thereof;   a first plate extending across a first end of the tubular main body, the first plate having a first end hole therethrough;   a second plate extending across a second end of the tubular main body, the second plate having a second end hole therethrough;   a junction box main connector assembly fixed in the first end hole and provided with electrical leads fixed in a recess in said junction box main connector assembly, said leads and said recess being adapted to receive a main cable end connector;   a junction box secondary connector assembly fixed in a selected one of the at least one side hole and the second end hole, the secondary connector assembly having electrical leads fixed in a recess therein and being adapted to receive a secondary cable end connector;   a wiring harness in said main body connected to said junction box main connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box main connector assembly leads, at least a branch of said wiring harness extending from a remainder of said wiring harness and fixed to said junction box secondary connector assembly and in electrical communication with said junction box secondary connector assembly leads;   wherein said junction box secondary connector assembly comprises a secondary connector and a secondary insert disposed in said secondary connector, said electrical leads of said secondary connector assembly being mounted on said secondary insert, and at least a portion of said wiring harness being connected to said secondary insert; and   wherein said wiring harness and said wiring harness branches in said main body are of a length substantially greater than shortest hypothetical lines between said junction box main insert and said secondary inserts, such that upon withdrawal of said inserts from said main body, each of said inserts is accompanied by a sufficient length of wiring harness and wiring harness branch to facilitate free movement of said withdrawn inserts.